Informal Meeting of Agriculture Ministers

Agriculture Ministers from across the EU met on May 23 2017, together with
representatives from major EU agriculture stakeholders, during the
Maltese Informal Council of Agriculture Ministers to discuss the interrelationships
between water as a scarce resource, climate change and
their impact on agriculture. The roundtable session was addressed by
both the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Mr. Phil Hogan, as well as
the Maltese Commissioner responsible for the Environment, Mr.
Karmenu Vella.

During the discussions it clearly emerged that vulnerability to scarce
water resources and the onset of climate change adaptation are a main
challenge to agriculture in the EU. It also emerged that increased
resilience in the agricultural sector is key to sustainability and to
increasing agricultural sector competitiveness, apart from the aspect of
social contribution and sensitivity to the environment.
EU Agriculture Ministers also debated how a robust water governance
framework integrating all users of water, not least the farming sector,
needs to be an important consideration in the EU’s efforts to adapt to
climate change and protect natural resources.